A YOUNG footballer who lost his legs to a rare form of meningitis wants nothing more than to return to the field of play.

Nine-year-old Joshua Ford and his family have faced a nightmare nine weeks after he suddenly became seriously ill with meningococcal septa-caemia.

The Ightenhill Primary pupil faced a battle for life - then his parents Darren and Lisa, of Lisbon Drive, Burnley, were told that he needed to have his legs amputated for him to survive.

But brave Josh, a left winger with Ighten Leigh under-10s, whose resil-ience has amazed family and friends, already has a model in mind for his new prosthetic legs.

Mum Lisa, 30, said: "We were kidding him, saying that his new legs were going to have painted nails and be all slim and feminine - but he said he wanted something more manly like David Beckham's legs."

Chelsea-fan Josh, whose favourite player is Didier Drogba, first fell seriously ill on August Bank Holiday Monday, complaining of a headache. His condition quickly deteriorated, and a rash developed all over his body.

An ambulance was alerted and Lisa and Darren were warned by paramedics that their son could be suffering from meningitis.

He was taken to Burnley General Hospital, where doctors and nurses fought to stabilise his condition for seven hours.

Later he was transferred to Pendlebury Children's Hospital.

Slowly Josh began to recover but medics were still concerned about his legs, which were purple, scabbed and unresponsive.

Eventually consultants broke the heartbreaking news to Darren and Lisa that Josh would need to have his legs amputated, to preserve his life. And then they had to sit down and tell Josh what lay ahead.

He had three operations, in just over a week, including painful skin grafts, to remove his lower legs just below the knee.

Through all the trauma, Darren and Lisa are still thankful for the time they have now with Josh.

"We've got our Christmas present here right now - even if he is still arguing with his sister!" added Lisa.

"He has reversed medical science," said Darren.

The family have been told that they face a 12-week wait before Lisa can claim disability living allowance and they also must wait for landlords Wimpey Homes to fit ramps to their semi-detached home.

But they remain angry that they have not been given more assistance from the Department of Work and Pensions.